freedom and "product"
[email protected]
In a message dated 4/13/01 12:46:46 AM, louisam1@... writes:
<< What is it about
the freedom of childhood that makes everyone so nervous? >>
You can't charge real money for 'doing nothing.'
You and I know that it's not doing nothing to keep children safe and happy,
to provide them cool experiences and all, but this culture is run on
money-by-the-hour and proveable results. "A product."
"A product of the public schools." You've heard that phrase, no doubt.
<<Her main
obstacle will be her natural bent to control and organize life in
general.>>
I have that. So I put that energy into controlling my children's freedom
from other people's controls. <g> I put the organization into organizing
opportunities.
Local homeschoolers are doing field trips (lots of them) lately for the
younger kids. My youngest is the age of their oldest, pretty much, at nine.
My older boys have stuff going (gaming geek stuff, mostly, but not
exclusively) with other boys--mostly homeschooled. Our house is the #2
hangout. #1 is the gaming shop a mile up the road. We have enough sleepling
space and bedding and are conveniently located that sometimes there are three
or four extra kids here, and not just on weekends. So my primary job lately
has been being transport and supervision for that group. I try to provide
table space for gaming, make sure there's milk (luxury days: soda) and
juice, reassure parents who need the okay that it's fine for the kids to be
here two or three days straight without them reciprocating (some can't, and
it wouldn't be the same--one family lives 50 miles out in the country which
defeats the purpose). I occasionally expose them to a movie they wouldn't
have seen or a comedian or some music, subtle-like. I spell words when they
need spelling (sometimes two computers are on both phone lines late at night)
and otherwise provide physical-plant support.
The "results" or "product" aren't "legitimate." I'm babysitting is all. I'm
providing them a safe place. Babysitting doesn't pay what *teaching* pays.
Teaching has charts and "progress" through test scores and such.
That's why so many states have testing requirements, because it seems wrong,
in this culture, not to 'show progress.'
The most I can say of these boys (and be able to prove anything) is that
they're off the streets and not setting fire to anything (usually).
They'll look back at it twenty years from now as an idyllic wonderland, I
imagine.
But that never pays money. <g>
Sandra
<< What is it about
the freedom of childhood that makes everyone so nervous? >>
You can't charge real money for 'doing nothing.'
You and I know that it's not doing nothing to keep children safe and happy,
to provide them cool experiences and all, but this culture is run on
money-by-the-hour and proveable results. "A product."
"A product of the public schools." You've heard that phrase, no doubt.
<<Her main
obstacle will be her natural bent to control and organize life in
general.>>
I have that. So I put that energy into controlling my children's freedom
from other people's controls. <g> I put the organization into organizing
opportunities.
Local homeschoolers are doing field trips (lots of them) lately for the
younger kids. My youngest is the age of their oldest, pretty much, at nine.
My older boys have stuff going (gaming geek stuff, mostly, but not
exclusively) with other boys--mostly homeschooled. Our house is the #2
hangout. #1 is the gaming shop a mile up the road. We have enough sleepling
space and bedding and are conveniently located that sometimes there are three
or four extra kids here, and not just on weekends. So my primary job lately
has been being transport and supervision for that group. I try to provide
table space for gaming, make sure there's milk (luxury days: soda) and
juice, reassure parents who need the okay that it's fine for the kids to be
here two or three days straight without them reciprocating (some can't, and
it wouldn't be the same--one family lives 50 miles out in the country which
defeats the purpose). I occasionally expose them to a movie they wouldn't
have seen or a comedian or some music, subtle-like. I spell words when they
need spelling (sometimes two computers are on both phone lines late at night)
and otherwise provide physical-plant support.
The "results" or "product" aren't "legitimate." I'm babysitting is all. I'm
providing them a safe place. Babysitting doesn't pay what *teaching* pays.
Teaching has charts and "progress" through test scores and such.
That's why so many states have testing requirements, because it seems wrong,
in this culture, not to 'show progress.'
The most I can say of these boys (and be able to prove anything) is that
they're off the streets and not setting fire to anything (usually).
They'll look back at it twenty years from now as an idyllic wonderland, I
imagine.
But that never pays money. <g>
Sandra
Vaughnde Edwards
Lately I have been having the feeling that I need to
provide a safe haven for my daughter and her friends (she has a couple at this
point in time)...but the place where we live does not allow that and I'm praying
that the Lord will give me direction in this issue. Maybe with this move within
the next month will provide a place where we can have the room to be able to do
that.
-----Original Message-----
From: SandraDodd@... <SandraDodd@...>
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Date: Friday, April 13, 2001 6:56 AM
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] freedom and "product"
In a message dated 4/13/01 12:46:46 AM, louisam1@... writes:
<< What is it about
the freedom of childhood that makes everyone so nervous? >>
You can't charge real money for 'doing nothing.'
You and I know that it's not doing nothing to keep children safe and happy,
to provide them cool experiences and all, but this culture is run on
money-by-the-hour and proveable results. "A product."
"A product of the public schools." You've heard that phrase, no doubt.
<<Her main
obstacle will be her natural bent to control and organize life in
general.>>
I have that. So I put that energy into controlling my children's freedom
from other people's controls. <g> I put the organization into organizing
opportunities.
Local homeschoolers are doing field trips (lots of them) lately for the
younger kids. My youngest is the age of their oldest, pretty much, at nine.
My older boys have stuff going (gaming geek stuff, mostly, but not
exclusively) with other boys--mostly homeschooled. Our house is the #2
hangout. #1 is the gaming shop a mile up the road. We have enough sleepling
space and bedding and are conveniently located that sometimes there are three
or four extra kids here, and not just on weekends. So my primary job lately
has been being transport and supervision for that group. I try to provide
table space for gaming, make sure there's milk (luxury days: soda) and
juice, reassure parents who need the okay that it's fine for the kids to be
here two or three days straight without them reciprocating (some can't, and
it wouldn't be the same--one family lives 50 miles out in the country which
defeats the purpose). I occasionally expose them to a movie they wouldn't
have seen or a comedian or some music, subtle-like. I spell words when they
need spelling (sometimes two computers are on both phone lines late at night)
and otherwise provide physical-plant support.
The "results" or "product" aren't "legitimate." I'm babysitting is all. I'm
providing them a safe place. Babysitting doesn't pay what *teaching* pays.
Teaching has charts and "progress" through test scores and such.
That's why so many states have testing requirements, because it seems wrong,
in this culture, not to 'show progress.'
The most I can say of these boys (and be able to prove anything) is that
they're off the streets and not setting fire to anything (usually).
They'll look back at it twenty years from now as an idyllic wonderland, I
imagine.
But that never pays money. <g>
Sandra
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